Two years ago today I fell in love. I fell in love with sport shooting. It was love at first sight. Gun sights that is, and pulling the trigger sealed the deal. I remember the day vividly. Whenever something momentous happens it is easy to remember the date. In addition, this day (July 8th) just happens to be an old friend’s birthday so it was quite easy for me to remember when I fell in love with guns. To commemorate this anniversary of sorts, I decided to go shooting and shoot a new gun. Before I talk about today, let me reminisce about July 8th, 2011.
I have always been interested in guns and sport shooting. I just never had anyone to take me as I was growing up. Perhaps it was reading The Dark Tower series by Stephen King that started it all, “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” Whatever it was, I had a need that went unfulfilled until the day I went shooting.
Walking into a range for my first time I looked to the guidance of others for everything. What gun to shoot, how to hold the gun, how to stand, how to focus on the sights, and everything else involved. I ended up shooting a Glock 17 9mm for my first experience. I shot about 70 rounds of ammo that day. It took me about 60 to even hit the target I’m afraid to say. Once I hit it I was able to hit consistently, and I saved my first target to remember.
Starting off with a 9mm may not have been the best choice, but holding the gun out, lining up the sight picture, focusing on my target, and pulling that trigger made me fall in love. If you have ever been shooting than you know the feeling. It is one of pure exhilaration, yet complete calmness. I become perfectly zen while shooting. Everything else fades away and there is nothing but me and my target. It’s almost a form of meditation since everything else disappears from your life as you focus on a single shot.
When I went back to the range the next time, I ended up shooting a .22 pistol and it was much easier to develop my shooting skills. I even ended up joining a league to keep me practicing and to see the improvement in my abilities. I did end up shooting 9mm again and I was much better after I got my technique down. Shooting is expensive though and finding the time is not always so easy. I hadn’t been to the range since December 2012. Which brings me to today.
I realized that it was my shooting anniversary and there was no time like the present to get back into it. I decided to make a reservation to go shooting and to try a new gun. I also wanted to try a revolver since I had never shot one before. I went with a .38 special (Ruger LCR) and it was snappy to say the least. Many reviews claim that the recoil is felt less and it can be a “shoot all day” type of gun. I’m afraid I have to disagree. After 50 rounds I was ready to be done. Since I still had time left, I decided to try a larger caliber. I went with a 1911 .45 ACP (also from Ruger).
This was a great gun to shoot. I loved it. The recoil was nothing like I expected from a larger caliber. I’m petite with small hands so I have always been scared to shoot larger guns. I’m definitely going to try some more 1911s and other types of larger caliber guns. I might even start shooting some shotguns or rifles in the future.
Today was a great day of shooting just like it was in 2011. I love going to the range and shooting my favorites. However, trying new things makes me remember how I fell in love two years ago. It was simply love at first sight.